Molecular Imaging of Cardiac Amyloidosis

J Nucl Med. 2020 Jul;61(7):965-970. doi: 10.2967/jnumed.120.245381. Epub 2020 Jun 1.

Abstract

Transthyretin and light-chain amyloidosis are the 2 main causes of cardiac amyloidosis. Recent developments in molecular imaging have transformed our ability to diagnose transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis noninvasively and unmasked a hitherto unrecognized prevalence of the disease. This review summarizes the current and evolving imaging approaches, their molecular structural basis, and the gaps in imaging capabilities that have arisen as a result of parallel developments in pharmacotherapy delivering the first effective treatment options for this condition.

Keywords: ATTR; SPECT; bone-seeking tracers; cardiac amyloidosis; molecular imaging.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Amyloidosis / diagnostic imaging*
  • Cardiomyopathies / diagnostic imaging*
  • Humans
  • Molecular Imaging / methods*